Huge meth cargo busted

LAW enforcement officers have reported the seizure of more
than 1.7 tonnes of methylamphetamine (ice) the largest shipment bound for
Australia and the largest ever domestic seizure in the US.

Hidden in two shipping containers, the drugs are said to
equate to more than 17m drug deals and have an estimated street value of
$1.29bn.

Officers from the Australian Federal Police and Victoria
Police arrested six people in Victoria and NSW allegedly involved with the US-based
organised crime syndicate.

The investigation began from intelligence gathered by the
Victorian Joint Organised Crime Taskforce about a planned large-scale drug
importation from a syndicate in California.

The Victorian JOCTF comprises the AFP, Victoria Police, the
Australian Border Force, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and
the Department of Home Affairs.

The Victorian JOCTF also enlisted the support of U.S
authorities who found a consignment suspected of containing illicit drugs
before it left American shores.

US authorities found more than 1.7 tonnes of various illicit
drugs – largely methylamphetamine – inside two large containers purporting to
contain audio equipment.

The drugs were seized in California in early January.

The shipment included the following drugs:

1728kg of methylamphetamine;

25 kilograms of cocaine;

5 kilograms of heroin, worth an estimated AUD $2.6m.

The previous record seizure of methylamphetamine bound for
Australia was 1.3 tonnes, seized in Western Australia in December 2017.

As a result of extensive investigations to identify the
alleged syndicate connections in Australia, the JOCTF raided premises in several
Melbourne suburbs, resulting in the arrest of two US nationals and two
Australians.

These included a 52-year-old American man and 46-year-old
American woman based in Woodstock (Victoria) and a 31-year-old man and
29-year-old female based in Keilor Downs.

Three of those arrested are scheduled to appear at the
Melbourne Magistrates Court today, to face the following charge:

Attempt to import a commercial quantity of border
controlled drugs;

One of those arrested will also face a charge of:

Possession of a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs.

The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.

Police also raided premises in the Sydney suburbs of Bonyyrigg
Heights, Mount Pritchard and Hinchinbrook, arresting two Australians and seizing
two kilos of cocaine in Hinchinbrook.

Those arrested include a 25-year-old Bonnyrigg Heights man
and a 31-year-old Hinchinbrook man who were charged with the following:

Authorities are to seek to have the men extradited to
Victoria to face court in the coming days.

ADVERTISEMENT

AFP Assistant Commissioner Organised Crime Bruce Hill said
the JOCTF investigation showed the effectiveness of Australian and
international authorities working together.

“This is the biggest ever seizure of methylamphetamine –
more than 1.7 tonnes – stopped before it had a chance to reach Australian
streets. By stopping this, we have ensured criminals will not profit from the
immense pain these drugs would have caused our community,” AC Hill said.

“I wish to thank our U.S. counterparts for their expert
involvement in this investigation and strong support of our efforts to keep
these drugs off Australian shores.”